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Health Benefits of Sushi

For a person with normal health, sushi has many health benefits. All dishes (excluding eel, and some fusion style sushi) are low in saturated fat and high in protein. There may be a slight load in carbohydrates in thick sushi rolls, but it is negligible for nigiri sushi since they are small in amount.

High content of fish oil is the main health factor which promotes a healthy cardiovascular system. The hikarimono, or shiny fishes (mackerel, Spanish mackerel, sardine, Pacific Saury) contain the highest amounts of EPA and DHA omega3 fats. (Ironically they are the least expensive fishes). These fishes are also high in vitamin E which is a powerful antioxidant.

Nori contains a great source of minerals found in the ocean and vinegar acts as an important factor in promoting cell metabolism. People who use vinegar frequently (to dress salads, blend with soy sauce, or drink in small amounts (please refer to rice vinegar in choosing the best ingredients) have lower percentages of body fat.

Unfortunately, people with type I or II diabetes should stay away from sushi, and stick to sashimi. Individuals with high blood pressure must limit their use of soy sauce (see: how to eat sushi).

Here’s a breakdown from Men’s Health on the healthiest and unhealthiest sushi options:

Healthy Sushi

Brown rice
Brown rice is increasingly becoming an option on sushi menus. This deviation from traditional sushi comes with health benefits: Brown rice maintains many of the nutrients lost while processing white rice (iron, vitamins B1 and B3, and magnesium). The bran layer of brown rice grain contains the fiber that lowers cholesterol and helps in keeping you regular. The fact that brown rice takes longer to break down in the body means it has a lower glycemic index, so it stabilizes and maintains blood glucose levels instead of causing rapid spikes.
Nori
The brown rice in sushi will still be wrapped in nori, the black layer that keeps sushi rolls together. Nori is dried seaweed and contains a dictionary’s worth of health benefits: It’s high in many vitamins and minerals including iodine; zinc; calcium; vitamins A, E, C, and K; fiber; and protein.

Wasabi
For those who like spice, wasabi is a healthy sushi condiment. This hot green paste is Japanese horseradish and is usually served alongside sashimi. It is a smart pairing because wasabi may help protect you from food poisoning due to its antimicrobial properties. It may prevent platelets from forming blood clots, asthma and cavities, but contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t “clear the sinuses.”

Ginger
A healthy sushi ingredient that does relieve sinus congestion is ginger. Served in a pickled form, it’s used to cleanse the palate after each piece of sushi. Ginger contains the compounds gingerols and shogaols. These oils stimulate digestive juices and neutralize stomach acids, which is definitely a plus when you ingest raw fish. Maybe you’ve had to fetch a ginger ale for your partner suffering from morning sickness, and that’s because Japanese researchers have found that ginger may be responsible for blocking the body’s reflex to vomit. Ginger can also lower cholesterol levels and limit blood clots in the same way aspirin works in the body.

Mackerel
Of all the raw fish you could eat, mackerel sashimi is a healthy sushi choice. Mackerel is packed with omega-3 fatty acids. The small size of the fish means it’s low in mercury. It is also a high-protein fish; there are 25 grams of protein in a 4-ounce serving, and only 160 calories. This healthy sushi choice also contains selenium, which works along with omega-3s to neutralize free radicals.

Unhealthy Sushi

Bluefin tuna
Deep red bluefin tuna is a popular sushi ingredient, but unfortunately it’s one of the unhealthiest fish to eat, raw or otherwise. It has among the highest mercury contents, not to mention chemical PCBs. Eating bluefin tuna is also bad for the environment: Due to overfishing, bluefin is now being replaced on many sushi menus with more common (and inexpensive) yellowfin or albacore tuna.

Tobiko sushi
Tobiko sushi is made full of eggs — fish roe and quail eggs. Those quail eggs, however, are an unhealthy sushi choice. Similar to chicken eggs, quail eggs are high in cholesterol and saturated fat. There is also the risk of salmonella poisoning since the eggs are eaten raw. There is folate in quail eggs, but that won’t do you any good if you get sick.

Tempura
Lovers of deep-fried goodies live by the motto, “if it aint fried, it aint food.” Tempura is the usual sushi menu choice for those averse to raw fish. Both seafood and veggies can be served with tempura, meaning deep-fried in tempura batter. The batter consists of water, flour and eggs. Frying anything raises the total calorie and total fat content.

Soy sauce
Soy sauce is a high-sodium condiment served with sushi, making it an unhealthy sushi ingredient. Anyone with high blood pressure or following a low-sodium diet should not eat soy sauce. Despite the fact that it’s made from soy beans, the sauce does not contain soy isoflavones and has negligible amounts of vitamins and minerals, except sodium (Na+). One tablespoon of soy sauce has 1,006 milligrams of sodium — nearly half the recommended daily value.

sushi sensibility

The next time you head out for sushi, don’t assume you’re doing your body a favor. Although Japanese cuisine is among the healthiest in the world, Western preferences have added all sorts of unhealthy elements to sushi (cream cheese, anyone?), and some of sushi’s most innocent-seeming ingredients, like tuna, can take their toll on you if ingested in large quantities. Remember that the more veggies in your sushi, the better off you’ll be, and when in doubt, order the mackerel, and load up on the wasabi.

Registered dietitian Zannat Reza says sushi, like any meal, can be healthy if you choose wisely. Here are some of her Sushi eating tips:

• Many rolls are low in protein, which may bring on hunger pains two hours after eating. Reza suggests augmenting your sushi roll with a small, plain latte or a small yogurt.

• Look for sushi made with minimal ingredients and be wary of the rolls with the yummy extras, such as mayonnaise, barbecue sauce and tempura. These, of course, add extra fat and sodium to the meal.Women who are pregnant and who are breastfeeding and young children should avoid fish high in mercury, including tuna, king mackerel and orange roughy.

• Like all takeout food, sushi can sometimes be high in sodium. Reza points out that even the otherwise healthy brown rice California roll has 750 mg of sodium, about half of what your body needs in a day.

• Soy sauce is laced with sodium. One tablespoon contains about 1,000 mg of sodium, so Reza suggests going light on the soy or skipping it all together.Verdict: Sushi can be a diet delight or a diet disaster — depending on what you pick.

Verdict: This is superhealthy sushi. Reza notes the 15 grams of hunger-busting protein is higher than most other rolls, while the 520 mg sodium is lower than many rolls. The avocado and salmon also make it a heart health booster, while the addition of multi-grain rice — and with seven different kinds of grain, including rye berries, purple barley and black japonica rice, it is truly multi-grain — adds an impressive 7 grams of fibre.

Verdict: This is sushi at its most decadent. Five bites of food contain one quarter of your daily calories, half the sodium your body needs in a day and more fat than two large chocolate sundaes from Dairy Queen. Yikes.

Verdict: By looking at the ingredient list, the soup’s minimal calories and fat and its 14 grams of belly filling protein, you would probably guess this is a comforting and healthy meal. Unfortunately, the 5,970 mg of sodium quickly renders this meal a dietary danger. The salt-soaked soup — the equivalent of 150 shakes with the salt shaker! — has four times more sodium than your body needs in a day.

3 thoughts on “Health Benefits of Sushi”

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